Mattel introduced the first Barbie at Toy Fair on March 9, 1959. For doll lovers of all ages, Barbie has epitomized a fashionably dressed woman who can be or do anything. Many children who grew up playing with Barbie are now avid Barbie collectors.
Within a decade of the icon’s debut, Barbie had Black friends. Unfortunately, it took two decades for Black Barbie to arrive. Despite the wait, the #1 doll is why Barbies of other ethnicities exist.
So, in celebration of the first doll influencer’s 63rd birthday, this installation looks back at previous Barbie installations in DeeBeeGee’s Virtual Black Doll Museum and installations that mention the doll icon.
Access approximately five pages of excerpted Barbie installations here. Click “continue reading” to view an installation in full OR continue to scroll to view each page of excerpts. Click or tap the number at the bottom of a page to advance to the next page of excerpted installations.
Happy Birthday, Barbie!
DeeBeeGee's Virtual Black Doll Museum™ 